Automatically-operating mechanism for elevating liquids



Ju y 6 1926. R. D. LENTZ AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING MEqnANIsu FOR ELEVAVTING. LIQUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 31. 1925 July 6 1926.

R. D.' LENTZ AUTOMATICALLY OPERATIMG MECHANISM FOR ELEVATING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 31. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 III!!! Illilllllilalol gwuento'c R. D. LENTZ AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING MECHANISM FOR ELEVATING LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 31, 1925 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 f; 15 f h Z7 29 v /2 2 Z0 4 /6 I y /5 III I I I II- 1 2/1 accomplish this object' in an 'a'utomaticnand t "outside sources -of power."

' tentlyffproduce a Patented July 6; "1926;

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This invention relates to means for eleiingi;liquid inteLa;single reservoir at anelevating water or other liquid'rqfroin 7 lower level to a higher level more particularly-the invention relates to an apparatus ior this purpose which utilizes asource of water having a moderate fall to elevate as liquid :to a desired height and accolnpllshes th s'by the provision of a simple-and automatically operating apparatus which may be easily installed'in' the desire'd'positionand adapted "toelevate water to a desired height from which it-Ymay be distributed for subsequent use. An object of my invention'isto provide an apparatus capable-of elevating wateror,

other liquid to a .-=higher:leve1 bytheutilization of the fall of a body of water orfother ;1iquid'througha moderate distance and to continuous manner without assistance from A further object of my invention i's' to prov-ide an apparatus which will intermitacuum' or condition of rarefied air' pressure in a closed receptacle situated in an elevated position so as to cause water'or other liquid to fiow into the same from 'alower level and be automatireally and intermittently discharged there'- [from to *storageat the elevated position;-

i ll

elements A further object is toiprovide an appara- 'may liquid 'is available and produce the desired vacuum in a'closed receptacle locatedjin itrol the operation of the vacuum-producing by; mechanismresponsive to :the level of the liquid therein whichwill be al-= ternatelycollected and discharged to a low- :er level, thus producing-a adesired vacuum 7, by theevacuation ot theliq'uid and its dej the valve 18 withthe consequentwolosing of scent 'to the lower level.

A further object 1s to provide ,ab attery.

, cessively'elevated to higher .levels.-

of a battery ofmy' elevating: units discharg Further objects will appear;hereinafterin the followingdetailed description. In the drawings Fig; 1 is, a :side elevation tusin which the vacuum-producing portionE bee-located at any convenient --place ;1 "where I a moderate fall ofrwater or other toa desired level to provlde a 'COIlSllILlCtlOll j wherein a certain volumeoffhquidais "suc-- vated positions U I vating units a 3 Fig; 3 -is a s1 my elevating unitsarranged so as v to elevate levels.- I s v j il ig. 4 is a cross-sectionpf the. ,va'euum producing 1 elements I with portion" thereof brokenaway.

at ss-a ma of a Fig. 5 is anenlarged .erosswsectional ,view 7 of the outlet valve '6, iineludiiiga portion of the wall-ofthe ehamber l'l. Fig. 6 is; an enlargedll'ey v section of "the, valve" 4C2 anu singi43i v Fig. 7 :is a p lanview 'of thelrtank lii."

' A -Fig; -;8 ,is azplan 'viewfof ;the tan 361;

In the drawings-{a suppjly otwater' or other liquid at- :a ymoderatefl elevation is e deliverejd throug lr' ,a supplyi conduit 10 ,jinto with an outlet 12 in which is-lo'cated .a'valve l3whi'cjh; is held in operativeposition ty a which theeout'let 12'opens gAi channel mem- I ;ber l 6--is" l ocated in theupper portionofthe tank '15,; show-n, and-is provided with an inlet ,at its extreme right-handgend in QClOse :proximity tolthetoproftheltank .15; f'Genvi an in at ,it's supe .e if ep g into the left-hand fend l ofgitlieflehannel 16. ,Thechannel 16 has a sloping [form and acts and 1 discharges endinto the chamber 17',

tral-ly: locatedin the t'ank lhgis.rehamben 7' I as a reservoir which is filled vztror'nthe inlet: r t I e hig ig Le d i through the; lower outlet atF-the leltjhandf automatically {con- 5 Within the ha'nr' =ber 17,isj" looated afloat 18'.fiA' slotted 'arin q 119 is operativelyn ttached t9 .thetfloat 18 and is'pivoted; at '20. The arm ,19 is-provided I: I

The i rise of'rth'e float I8 [permits the ran; of

uwith an "extending port i on-2l,Whiehflis' 1 adaptedto engage the vstem of the valve-'13. V

:theoutlet 12;;and the-fall of theffloa'traises. J

the valve l3-thereby opening. the outlet vrl2,

.T he float 18 operates on a tubular; member 25 having-a gflu-id-tight connection Iwith the aThe en 'agement of therhead 27;;by 'the Man- :nular element 29: occurs just; after,the yalve 13Jhas closed the outlet '12. A valve 30 is attached to the lower end of a rod 26 and is seated at the outlet. 31 ofv a chamber 32.

' The chamber 32 is connected by a pipe 33,

" as shown.

The liquid 39 to be elevated is fed into a tank 40'through apipe 41. The tank 40 may be located at any desirable position but must be at a higher level thanflthe discharge end 31 of the pipe 33. A foot valve 42 and chamber 43 are located in the bottom of the tank 40. The chamber 43 is connected ,by a pipe 44 to the interior of the chamber 36 at a point'near the top thereof. In practice it has been found desirable that the vertical distance from the level of the tank 15 to the discharge end of'the pipe 33 be greater than the vertical distance from the level of the tank 36to the-level of thetank 40.

Au opentank 45 is located in proximity to the tank 36'. An outlet controlled by a check valve 46 :permitsthe discharge of liquid from the tank 36' into the tank 45.

Referring to Fig. 2' the operation is as follows: z 1 r Water or anyother liquid is discharged through the pipe 10 into the tank.v 11, the valve 13 being in raised position the'liquid will pass into the tank 15. When the liquid has risen to thelevel of the inlet to the channel 16 it will pass through this channel into the chamber 17. As 'the liquid level V rises inthe chamber 17 the float 18' will rise eorrespondingly and this rising motion of the float will lower the extending portion 21 of the connected arm 19 thus permitting the valve '13 to close the outlet 12. The water which" is stored in channel 16 will continue to flow into thechamber 17 after the valve 7 12 is closed thuscausingifthe float 18 to con tinue its rising movement. Subsequently,

'- upon the further rising ofthe float 18 the annular element 29 thereon will engage thehead 27 on the-rod 26 and lift the valve 30 whereupon the liquid in the tank 15 will be J hausted from the tank 15. The restricteddischarged to the *pipe 33. Y The water in channel 16 continues to flow into the chain ber 17 keeping the float 18 and valve 30 raised until the water has been nearly exoutlet from the chamber 17' prevents a rapid discharge of the water from the chamber 17 and thus regulates-the speed of the downlower level produces a vacuum or rarefied atmospheric condition in the tanks 15 and The vacuum thus produced causes a. rise ofliquid from tank 40 through the pipe 44, which liquid discharges into the V tank 36 and substantially fills the same. The liquid then passesfrom thetank 36 to the open tank 45 from whence it may be dis charged from this elevation and used for any desirable purpose such as power or water supply systems. I

As the level of the liquid in the tank 15 falls it also falls in chamber 17 by reason of its discharge through the outlet valve 46. r The downward movement of the'float 18 following the falling level of the liquid in the chamber 17 actuates lever 19 so as to raise the extending portion 21 which contacts with thestem'22 of the valve 13 and raises this valve, thus allowing the liquid inthe tank 11 to-flowinto the tank 15 and flll it, as heretofore described. ,'The size of the outlet from the chamber 17 and valve 46 are so proportioned as to cause the fall of the liquid in the chamber 17 to be so timed as to actuate the valve 13 at the proper moment in the cycle of operation. T In operation the discharge of the liquid. from the tank-15 and pipe 33 will occur before thevalve 13' is open. Refilling of the tank 15 then commences and the described operations are repeated periodically in an automatic manner.

The refilling of the tank 15- expelsthe-air therein into the tank 36 and assists in theexpulsion' of the liquid therein into the tank In Fig. 1 I have shown a plurality'of units having their tanks 36 discharging into a common, large reservoir 47, from whence the liquid is discharged for the desired utilization through an outlet 48. The number of units may be varied as desired, and their proportions may be varied ,to meet the desired requirements. In this manner any desired amount of liquid may be elevated to the level of reservoir 47 and held therein for subsequent use. p

In Fig. 3 I have shown a plurality of units with the tanks 36 and 45 mounted at successively higher levels. In this construc tion the liquid 1s drawn from the lower tank 6 40 into the first tank 36 and discharged into its connected tank 45. Frointhis first tank 45 the liquid is elevated into'the second next higher tank36 and discharged into its tank 45 from whence it is elevated into the third nexthigher tank 36 and discharged into its tank 45. from tank 40 maybe elevated in steps to the:

desired level.

By this construction the liquid The number of units andstages of elevation may be multiplied to meet th'e; desired requirements; The cycle of operation of each separate unit is accomplished in substantially the same amount of time and the tanks 45 are of such' capacity as to assure a supply of liquid therein to furnish the of the waves by collecting water from the said inlet, a discharge outlet for said rec-epta-T cle, a controlling valve for said outlet, means for. supplying a liquid to said receptacle of itscycle.

consumption,

-ist-lyla,

j {quantity the 'next V '36,

. when the. vacuum is formed therein.

"operation; it. is desirable thatfthe capacity of the tanks iii thisfconstr'ucti'on --be greater 1 than the amountdrawn therefrom at anyone time. In starting vup they will be filled jsettingl'thei units in operation successively commencing with the unit feeding the lower ank, Inthis ma nnerthe periods of elevation may vary without depletion of a sup-1 ply of liquid in'an'y tank amt a 'timewlien the adjacent unit is in theelevatingip'ortion My apparatus has a wide variety of uses.

lVater may be pumped from sea level by taking advantage of the fall created by; the ebb and flow of the tide and the movements peaks thereof and transporting; to storage. The elevated water may be used for domestic poses. Waste water or surface drainage, mine drifts-or sewers having a moderate amount of fall and sufficient volume may be used. I have found, under ordinary circum stances, that it requires only a moderate degree of fall to permit the pumping of fresh water from creeks, springs and ponds to' a desired location. Water may also be pumped from cellars and from excavations. The

mechanism is simple and automatic in its through said mlet, a closed chamber posi tioned within said receptacle provided with an inlet at the top thereof at a position near said the 'top of said receptacle and an outlet-at the bottom thereof opening lnto said receptacl-e,

inlet and outlet valves and means for supplying a liquid to said closed chamber through inlet therein so as to actuate said float.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a closed receptacle provided with an inlet, a valve adapted to control said inlet, adischargeoutlet for said re-" vmatlc meansincluding a float, a float chamceptacle, a controlling valve for said outlet,

means for supplying a liquid to said receptacle through said inlet, a closed chamber 'posi-' tioned within said receptacle provided with an inlet near the top thereof and an outlet at the bottom thereof opening into said receptacle, a liquid-conducting means conflre protection or power pura float mounted in said chamber, means; operated by said float adapted to actuate said,

netted 'tqgiidin1aaaa trange a as at adjacent to the top of said clf'osed Teceptaelega float mounted in said;chamberf and means operated by said float. adapted to actuate said inlet and outlet valves.

-. 3. In a device ofthe class describedf tlie combination of a closed receptacle provided withfan inlet, a fvalvefadapted to'controlsa'id inletfmeans for "supplying a liquid to said receptacle through said inlet, a closed 'ch'a*mfber positioned within said receptacle provide'dwith an inlet near the top "thereof and an outlet 'n'ear the bottom thereof opening "into "said receptacle, a float mountedlin said chamber, a pivoted member actuated by said float adapted to operate said inlet valve,

meansconnected to said outlet valve having a portion thereof lying in the path of'the 'movement of said float so as to be'contacted thereby to open saidoutletvalve when the liquid level'in said chamber has raised said float to its'upper position and means for said float.

. 4;. .In a device the' classdescribed the combination of a closed receptacle provided with an inlet, a valve adapted to'control said inlet, a dischargeconduit extending downvided with an inlet near the top thereof and anfoutlet near the bottom thereof opening 7 into said receptacle, a float mounted in said chamber, a pivoted member actuated by said float, adapted toloperate said inlet valve, a

rod connected to said outlet valve and extending through said discharge conduit havsupplyinga liquid to said closed chamber 'through'said inlet therein so asito actuate g a a I 790 ing a projection thereon at its upper end posltionedin the pathgof the movement of.

said float sov as to be contacted thereby 'to open said outlet'valve when the liquid level 1n said chamber has raised said float to its upper positionandmeans for supplying a liquid tosaid closedchamber through said inlet therein so as'to actuate said float.

-5. In a device of the class described, a I

lowerclosed tank, an open tank adapted to discharge a liquid thereinto, a pipe extending "downwardly from said lower tank,

means for automatically cutting off the flow of liquid to said closed tankr-esponsive to the liquid level therein, means controlled" by said automatic means for opening and closing lower end of said pipe, -the autotank' first named a receptacle receiving liquid-to be elevated; and a pipe for conducting liquid from this receptacle tothe upper tank, when the air pressure is reduced there- Vflow of a liquid to produce a vacuum in said closed receptacles, 'means' adapted to utilize sa1dvacuu1n to raise a liquid and supply it to the lowest closed receptacle of v said series of closedsreceptaclesfrom a lower level, a receiving receptacle for eachof said closed receptacles located at successively higher levels and adapted to receive liquid from said'closed receptacles, means for disi charging liquid by'gravity from said closed receptacles into said receiving receptacles V and" means adapted to utilize'said vacuum to raise said discharged liquid in said receiving receptacles and introduce it into a higher 7 closed receptacle of said series of closed receptacles. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REA D. LENTZ. 

